The Death Of Steve McNair And The War Against Cliché

The eulogies to Steve McNair are pouring in from all points on the compass, and one word seems to be showing up again and again. You know which one: "warrior."

The vocabulary of grief is always limited, but don't the tired old martial clichés seem wildly out of place in any memorial to a man who died with two bullets in his head? A sampling:

Eddie George, former Titans running back: "a warrior"

Al Del Greco, former Titans kicker: "a warrior"

Donna Doss, Nashville interior designer and Titans season ticketholder: "a warrior, and he always gave us 110%"

Brad Hopkins, former Titans left tackle: "a warrior and a competitor"

Selma McNair, father: "a good soldier ... a warrior"

Robert Headley, Associated Content: "a warrior and the definition of a field general"

Jason Whitlock, Foxsports.com: "a warrior who fought the wrong war."

Steve Young, Hall of Fame quarterback: "a warrior who battled"

David Ginsburg, Associated Press: "a warrior on the football field"

Fred Faour, Houston Sports Examiner: "a warrior on the field who often took a beating"

Cam Inman, Contra Costa Times: "a warrior in the Coliseum in AFC title game vs. Raiders"

Blaine Bishop, former Titans safety: "an absolute warrior as a player"

Floyd Reese, former Titans GM: "a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior"

Michael Lombardi, National Football Post: "a true warrior"

Jemele Hill, ESPN.com: "the football warrior" Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: "a Sunday warrior" Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: "an NFL warrior," "a warrior" Allen Wilson, Buffalo News: "Hall of Fame warrior"

Peter Finney, New Orleans Times-Picayune: "like some warrior poet"

Frank Wycheck, former Titans tight end: "what a warrior was all about"

Warren Moon, Hall of Famer and former Oilers quarterback: "one of the great warriors to ever put on a football uniform at any position"

Jerome Solomon, Houston Chronicle: "Most certainly, the word you will see and hear the most over the next few days when players, coaches, media and fans talk about McNair will be 'warrior,' because that he was. A football warrior."